Ella Querin was the only servant left to look after Irelina.

She made sure that they left the ruins of Mercius safely as they departed and headed to the Golden Empire.

Irelina was the sole daughter of Arcy and Esmeralda Mercius.

The kind of life they lived was simple and showered with family bliss.

Irelina's father had founded and named a small country, Mercius. A place where monsters and shadow demons were less common than in other countries.

Some people migrated with their families to this humble place. To seek peace away from chaos. But the shadow demons ruined their homes, leaving not a single hair of the innocent unharmed.

Irelina could not believe her eyes at what happened.

They had not expected it.

She could not accept that her parents were gone. She had not even had the chance to bury them or keep some of their ashes.

The cold wind had swept their remains away.

When the evil flames devoured all they could see, Irelina screamed in silence.

Her heart shattered into pieces.

She wailed in tears as the shadow demon burned her parents alive where they hid.

Irelina did not want to leave her parents behind, but she had to survive.

She had to, because her parents told her to do so.

To be saved.

So, she had to seek refuge with her father's close friend, the regent Robina Verticulas.

Irelina Mercius’s new home was in the regent’s palace.

Ella sobbed while combing Irelina’s wavy, long, shiny, black hair.

Irelina's face was hidden by the magicus black veil.

Her silence was full of grief for her loss.

She had no choice but to follow her parents' last will: to seek help from the regent’s grace.

Her black veil was bizarre.

It was enchanted with a protective spell made from her mother’s blood.

Her parents were the only ones who had been able to see her face for a short moment behind it.

If touched, the veil released a painful purple electric vine shock that turned the skin black.

Irelina started wearing the black veil when she was born.

As she aged, she was prohibited from using or looking in the mirror.

She had never seen her face since then.

But in her parents' eyes, Irelina was a beautiful, innocent child.

She had a pure heart and obeyed them.

She never questioned why they hid her face. For the last seventeen years, Irelina had never removed the black veil, even when sleeping and bathing.

In a few months, she would come of age.

Only then could she remove the veil with a mystic bracelet she would soon wear.

“Ella…” Her tone was gentle. “When will you stop crying?”

Ella sniffled and wiped her tears with great concern.

“How can they be so cruel?" Ella said. "You just got here...and are mourning your family’s death. And yet, they pronounce you the ninth Concubine without your consent. Isn’t it unfair and unjust, Lady Irelina? Why did you not refuse?” She sniffled while combing Irelina's hair.

“If I refuse, where would we go?" Irelina's eyes were lonely. "Father said that we can trust the regent. He also mentioned that the regent had been one of his closest friends for a long time.”

“I know, but still—"

“Ella, we should be grateful," she continued. "The regent accepted us, even though we don't belong here."

“I’m sorry, Lady Irelina. I overstepped.” Ella felt downhearted.

She put the hairbrush on the table with a concerned expression.

“That’s alright—don’t apologize," said Irelina. "I know you’re concerned. Let’s stay here for a while. Tomorrow, if the regent visits, I will talk to her about us.”

Ella agreed.

She had never seen Irelina’s face even once.

Curious, she tried to touch the black veil while Irelina was asleep.

Her fingers had been itching to see and touch Irelina's face when she was born.

But whenever she asked Lady Esmeralda about the veil, she would smile and say, "It's to keep the bugs from biting. Irelina has sensitive skin."

Ella would naively stare at Lady Esmeralda's smiling face. And she would hum a sweet lullaby to Irelina in her arms.

Luckily, Ella stopped before touching the veil.

She realized that no matter what Irelina looked like, she would still take care of her like a sister.

In Ella's hopeful heart, Irelina was the kindest lady she had ever served.

A week later, Regent Robina finally visited them.

Before her planned visit, a big commotion occurred with the country’s barrier shield.

Doris of the West rushed to the Golden Empire with Apollis, the archmage. They needed to discuss the strange rumble of the barrier.

Strange.

It had never happened before.

They were able to resolve the shattered barrier spell.

Temporarily.

But Zeddrick doubted how long the barrier could last if another surprise shook the land.

It seemed a mysterious entity was trying to break the barrier.

Meanwhile, Regent Robina and Irelina were having tea in the drawing room, served by Ella.

“Are you settling in well in my home, Irelina?” Regent Robina asked as she drank her tea.

“Yes, I am," Irelina curved her lips with a kind smile. She said, "We are grateful and indebted to you, Regent Robina,” as she placed her teacup on the table.

The regent smiled, but her gaze was curious about Irelina's face behind the black veil.

She wanted to confirm whether the rumor was true.

That the shadow demon had ruined her face.

But she didn't want Irelina to feel uncomfortable around her.

A moment of silence filled the air around them.

Irelina glanced to her right, where the window had been left open.

“My father—how well do you know my father?” she asked in a soft tone.

Regent Robina curved a genuine smile as she held her teacup, which was placed on her lap.

"I never expected you to ask about your father," she said and added, "I knew him well, because we went to the same school.

"He lived in the southern part of the Vincentus Empire. After a year, we became close friends." The regent smiled, remembering their good times. She added, "Thanks to him, I met my husband, Freddrick Verticulas."

Regent Robina looked at Irelina's unfazed posture.

She then smiled again and said, "They were inseparable as best friends. And...your father was a bubbly man and a born merchant, so he traveled much with his father. Until one day, he never came back to Hēnte.”

The regent paused, staring at her teacup with a wistful smile. She then said, "Out of the blue, your father sent me a letter. He mentioned that he had established a small country and named it after his family, Mercius."

"From then on, we often exchanged letters. And...talked a lot about you and how he loved you and your mother." Regent Robina smiled at Irelina.

Irelina felt a sense of relief in her heart.

She placidly smiled with tearful eyes.

Her father and mother were everything to her.

And so, she missed them so much that she wanted to cry again.

When the shadow demons had ambushed their land, her parents had saved her. It had been the best they could do as her father fought the demons.

It was still so vivid that she could hear the screams of the people dying and the piercing voice of her father.

"Run! Run away, Irelina! Save yourself! Don’t look back!"

And the hopeful tears of her mother, telling her to survive at all cost.

And the most painful part for Irelina had been seeing her parents burned alive to the ground.

They were embracing each other until their last breath.

Irelina felt the pang of pain in her heart.

She breathed and looked at the open window as the silhouette of the curtain rustled in her eyes.

“My parents…they were everything to me." Her tone sounded pure and calm. "Seeing them die in front of my eyes was the most painful thing...that I will forever...keep in my heart.”

The regent felt unhappy to hear such sorrow from Irelina.

But despite what had happened to her at such a young age, she was still trying to live an everyday life.

“I believe, as sons and daughters, our parents' love will last forever, no matter what." Regent Robina spoke comforting words. "I’m sure your parents are at ease. You're in good hands now." Her tone consoled Irelina's heart.

Irelina nodded and pondered.

She thought of her parents while looking at the bright sky outside the window. The leaves waved like they were trying to warm her heart. She thought, Father, Mother, please watch over me.

I will try to live as normally as you wanted me to.

***

In the emperor's palace glasshouse, the seven concubines had high tea.

It was a refreshing day for them.

The glasshouse was surrounded by various chrysanthemums and a fountain.

It was the garden's centerpiece. Behind Dianthus's far right shoulder were backdrops of orchids. They were uniquely designed and placed.

The glasshouse was enchanted with a Revivora spell that kept the flowers and plants fresh and healthy.

The concubines enjoyed their time with touches of laughter and gossip.

“I’m curious what the ninth Concubine's face looks like. Was Irelina her name?” Samantha opened the topic.

“Me, too. I am curious," Lily said, picking her favorite blueberry muffin. "No one has seen her walking around in the regent’s palace. ”

“She must be a discreet person who doesn’t want to meddle with anyone,” Erielle said.

But they wondered why.

Dianne sipped her tea with grace while listening to their conversation.

She averted her glance to Yzabelle and set the teacup on the table.

“Since she’s the topic for the day, what do you think of her, Yzabelle?" Dianthus curved a curious smile. "Are you also curious about what she looks like?”

Yzabelle sipped her tea as the others waited for her opinion.

She was the oldest among them. It was common for the ladies to respect someone older than them.

“I am, of course, curious about her," Yzabelle said. "But what can we do? The regent made it clear that she didn’t like others to see her.”

“So, you’re saying we should just...let it go?” Dianthus raised her right brow as if she were against Yzabelle's opinion.

“I am not sure why everyone’s bothered about her," said Yzabelle. "She’s not meddling with any of us or disturbing the emperor. Aren’t we supposed to be content?" Her tone was a little sarcastic.

"The emperor shows no interest in her," Yzabelle said, locking a piercing stare on Dianthus.

Some felt embarrassed and distressed over Yzabelle's mean words.

But Dianthus felt displeased by her sarcastic tone.

The atmosphere became upsetting.

“My, my, shall we change the topic?" Amelia tried to cool down the heated atmosphere. "The emperor’s birthday is months away. Wouldn’t it be great if we planned something for His Majesty?” She diverted their attention to the emperor’s upcoming special day.

Though Luciana seemed uninterested in their mockery.

She just indulged her sweet tooth with a selection of sliced cakes and a cup of Jasmine tea.